Exam comparison
AI-901 vs AI-103: AI fundamentals or Azure AI developer
Who should take each exam
AI-901 targets those discovering AI and Microsoft Foundry services. Explains concepts and simple implementation scenarios. Microsoft states: “You also need knowledge of Python coding syntax and programming techniques.”
AI-103 is for developers building and deploying AI apps and agents with Microsoft Foundry. Microsoft states: “you should have experience developing apps by using Python”.
In short: AI-901 validates AI fundamentals; AI-103 targets developers who build AI apps and agents in Python.
Exam format and content
| AI-901 | AI-103 | |
|---|---|---|
| Certification | Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals | Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate |
| Code | AI-901 | AI-103 |
| Duration | 45 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Passing score | 700 | 700 |
| Prerequisites | Knowledge of Python coding syntax and programming techniques | Experience developing apps by using Python |
| Proctored | Not published | Yes |
Domains and competencies evaluated
AI-901
- Identify AI concepts and capabilities 40–45 %
- Implement AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry 55–60 %
Tests understanding of principles (responsible AI, models, workloads). Small Foundry applications.
AI-103
- Plan and manage an Azure AI solution 25–30 %
- Implement generative AI and agentic solutions 30–35 %
- Implement computer vision solutions 10–15 %
- Implement text analysis solutions 10–15 %
- Implement information extraction solutions 10–15 %
Build production systems: choose models, RAG pipelines, agents, CI/CD, security, monitoring. Python code with SDK.
Overlaps and key differences
Overlaps: both cover Foundry, generative AI, responsible AI principles, and multimodal capabilities (vision, speech, text).
Key differences:
- AI-901 is lightweight: explains what Foundry can do, breadth over depth.
- AI-103 is in-depth: assumes mastery of concepts, demands building systems, choosing models, implementing safeguards.
Which to choose based on your profile
Choose AI-901 if…
- You are discovering AI or Microsoft Foundry.
- You want a quick certification (45 min) to validate basics.
Choose AI-103 if…
- You already develop in Python.
- You have used LLMs or RAG systems.
- You need a certification demonstrating development expertise.
Resources and preparation
- AI-901 study guide
- AI-103 study guide
- Free Microsoft Learn modules for concepts and Foundry labs
Try both, free
Original questions, each answer explained with a link to the documentation. Study mode is free and needs no account.
Practice Exam AI-901: Azure AI Fundamentals
25 free questions with explanations
Practice Exam AI-103: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate
25 free questions with explanations